December 26, 2025, 6:00 PM
Happy Friday to you, and I pray you had a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!
As we've been celebrating Christmas this week, I'm confident there's been a lot of GIVING (the giving of gifts, food, cards, and well wishes, etc) going on in your world. I know this has taken place in my world!
Let's remember, however, the greatest gift of all: The gift of a Savior born in Bethlehem!
Jesus coming to earth is a reminder to us that there is no greater example of GIVING than God giving His son, Jesus, to come to earth and eventually die for all the sins of mankind.
The Apostle Paul never forgot this. Listen to what he wrote in 1 Timothy 1:14-16, "The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners -- of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life."
If Paul considered himself "the worst of sinners," it should make us stop and be thankful for how much we have been forgiven.
Jesus, thank you for your grace and mercy. Please help us share with others your grace and mercy along with the Good News of your Gift. Amen.
We had a great day at First Christian Church last Sunday (December 21st)! Our Associate Minister, Rafaelito Fraden, and crew did a GREAT JOB with our Christmas Cantata during our morning worship and our Candlelight Service that evening. THANKS again to EVERYONE who took part! It was awesome!
This coming Sunday (December 28th) will be the last Sunday of 2025.
I will close out our series of messages called "Names for Christmas" with a sermon, "A New Name on a White Stone."
In Revelation 2, Jesus is writing to the Church located in Pergamum. He encourages the believers there not to give up. If they didn't quit and overcame, they would be victorious. Revelation 2:17 says, "To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it."
Come join us this Sunday at FCC as we close out 2025 on a strong note and talk about being victorious over the world through Jesus Christ!
Over the last week of the year, I've cleared my calendar to take some time off and spend time praying and planning for the new year of 2026. Please pray for me and the year ahead.
God Bless,
Greg H.
